U.S. patent number 6,099,920 [Application Number 08/922,994] was granted by the patent office on 2000-08-08 for artificial christmas tree and method of mounting branches thereon.
Invention is credited to Cheung Chong Kao.
United States Patent |
6,099,920 |
Kao |
August 8, 2000 |
Artificial christmas tree and method of mounting branches
thereon
Abstract
An artificial tree has a trunk (2), at least one tubular bracket
(4) for fitting on the trunk, a fixing ring (6) and a branch (12)
having a stem portion, wherein the tubular bracket (4) defines an
opening for insertion of an end of the stem, the fixing ring (6)
being adapted to fit over the tubular bracket and to be deformable
so as to tightly grip the tubular bracket.
Inventors: |
Kao; Cheung Chong (Chai Wan,
HK) |
Family
ID: |
25447939 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/922,994 |
Filed: |
September 2, 1997 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/18;
428/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
33/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
33/00 (20060101); A47G 33/06 (20060101); A47G
033/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;428/18,19
;D11/118,130 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1230984 |
|
Dec 1966 |
|
DE |
|
944472 |
|
Dec 1963 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Bell; Mark L.
Assistant Examiner: Sample; David
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wood, Herron & Evans, LLP
Navaro, Jr.; A. Ralph
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An artificial tree comprising a trunk, at least one tubular
bracket for fitting on the trunk, a fixing member, and at least one
branch having a stem portion, wherein the tubular bracket at least
partly defines an opening for insertion of an end of the branch
stem portion, the fixing member being adapted to fit over the
tubular bracket and to be deformable so as to tightly grip the
tubular bracket, wherein the stem of the branch is formed of a
metal wire which has an elongate cross-section such that when
fitted the or each branch may be bent by a user towards or away
from the trunk.
2. An artificial tree according to claim 1 wherein the fixing
member is a metal ring which overlies the tubular bracket and may
be stamped whereby the ring is compressed onto the tubular
bracket.
3. An artificial tree according to claim 1 wherein the bracket is
formed with a plurality of longitudinally-extending grooves which
define with the trunk the openings for insertion of the branch
stem.
4. An artificial tree according to claim 3 wherein the grooves are
formed in outwardly-protruding portions.
5. An artificial tree according to claim 1 wherein the tubular
bracket is formed of plastics material.
6. An artificial tree comprising a trunk, at least one tubular
bracket for fitting on the trunk, a fixing member, and at least one
branch having a stem portion, wherein the tubular bracket at least
partly defines an opening for insertion of an end of the branch
stem portion, the fixing member being adapted to fit over the
tubular bracket and to be deformable so as to tightly grip the
tubular bracket, wherein the bracket is formed with a plurality of
longitudinally-extending grooves which define with the trunk the
openings for insertion of the branch stem.
7. An artificial tree according to claim 6, wherein the grooves are
formed in outwardly-protruding portions.
8. An artificial tree comprising a trunk, at least one tubular
bracket fitted on the trunk, and at least one branch having a stem
portion fitted in an opening at least partly defined by the tubular
bracket, and a fixing member which fits over the tubular bracket
and is deformed so as to tightly grip the tubular bracket.
9. An artificial tree according to claim 8 wherein the fixing
member is a metal ring stamped to compress the tubular bracket
therein.
10. An artificial tree according to claim 8 wherein the stem of the
branch is formed of a metal wire which has an elongate
cross-section.
11. An artificial tree according to claim 8 wherein the bracket is
formed with a plurality of longitudinally-extending grooves which
define with the trunk the openings in which the branch stem
portions are fitted.
12. An artificial tree according to claim 11 wherein the grooves
are formed in outwardly-protruding portions.
13. An artificial tree according to claim 8 wherein the tubular
bracket is formed of plastics.
14. An artificial tree comprising a trunk, at least one tubular
bracket fitted on the trunk, and at least one branch having a stem
portion fitted in an opening at least partly defined by the tubular
bracket, and a fixing member which fits over the tubular bracket so
as to tightly grip the tubular bracket, wherein the stem of the
branch is formed of a metal wire which has an elongate
cross-section.
15. An artificial tree comprising a trunk, at least one tubular
bracket fitted on the trunk, and at least one branch having a stem
portion fitted in an opening at least partly defined by the tubular
bracket, and a fixing member which fits over the tubular bracket so
as to tightly grip the tubular bracket, wherein the bracket is
formed with a plurality of longitudinally-extending grooves which
define with the trunk the openings in which the branch stem
portions are fitted.
16. An artificial tree according to claim 15 wherein the grooves
are formed in outwardly-protruding portions.
17. A method of mounting at least one branch to the trunk of an
artificial tree which has at least one tubular bracket and a fixing
member, the branch having a branch stem portion, the method
comprising the steps of:
(a) Inserting the tubular bracket and fixing member onto the trunk
so that the fixing member fits over the tubular bracket;
(b) fitting the or each branch on the trunk by inserting the end of
the stem portion into an opening or respective openings at least
partly defined by the tubular bracket; and
(c) deforming the fixing member so as to tightly grip the tubular
bracket and branch stem or stems therein.
18. A method according to claim 17 in which the fixing member is a
fixing ring, and wherein in step (c) the fixing member is deformed
by a stamping operation to grip the tubular bracket therein.
19. A method according to claim 17 in which the tubular bracket is
provided with at least one longitudinally-extending groove which
defines with the trunk the insertion opening, the branch stem being
inserted into the said opening at step (b).
20. A method according to claim 17 wherein the or each branch is
fitted such that the branch extends generally parallel to the trunk
and is subsequently bent away from the trunk to extend more
radially therefrom.
21. A method according to claim 17 in which before step (b), the
tubular bracket is secured onto the trunk with a pin or staple
forced through the tubular bracket and into the trunk.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an artificial tree and to a method
for mounting branches on such an artificial tree.
In artificial trees such as Christmas trees, and in particular in
larger trees of superior quality the central trunk is generally
formed of a metal pole to which the branches are attached by means
of separate bracket pieces. These include portions, one for each
branch, to which the respective branches are attached, by a pivot
or hinge in a manner which allows a degree of movement. This
construction is however relatively expensive and troublesome to
manufacture and time-consuming to assemble. It also has an
unnatural appearance due to the construction of the bracket and
pivots or hinges.
The present invention seeks to provide an arrangement which is more
easily manufactured and assembled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is
provided an artificial tree comprising a trunk, at least one
tubular bracket for fitting on the trunk, a fixing member, and at
least one branch having a stem portion, wherein the tubular bracket
at least partly defines an opening for insertion of an end of the
branch stem portion, the fixing member being adapted to fit over
the tubular bracket and to be deformable so as to tightly grip the
tubular bracket.
The arrangement allows a branch to be simply yet firmly attached on
the tree trunk.
Preferably, an artificial tree according to claim 1 wherein the
fixing member is a metal ring which overlies the tubular bracket
and may be stamped whereby the ring is compressed onto the tubular
bracket.
The stem of the branch is formed of a metal wire which has an
elongate cross-section such that when fitted may be bent by a user
towards or away from the trunk. This allows the branches to be
folded flat during storage and transport, and folded out into the
desired shape by the user.
In the preferred embodiment the bracket is formed of plastics and
is formed with a plurality of longitudinally-extending grooves
which define with the trunk the openings for insertion of the
branch stem. The grooves are formed in outwardly-protruding
portions.
In a further aspect the invention resides in an artificial tree
comprising a trunk, at least one tubular bracket fitted on the
trunk, and at least one branch having a stem portion fitted in an
opening at least partly defined by the tubular bracket, and a
fixing member which fits over the tubular bracket so as to tightly
grip the tubular bracket.
In a still further aspect the invention resides in an artificial
tree comprising a trunk, at least one branch, and securing means
for securing the branch onto the trunk, the branch including a
branch stem formed of a metal wire of elongate cross-section,
whereby the branch may be bent by a user, towards or away from the
trunk.
This allows a tree to be provided in which the branches can be
arranged in a compact arrangement for ease of storage and
transport, and easily bent into natural-looking arrangement by the
user, as desired.
In a still further aspect the invention resides in a method of
mounting at least one branch to the trunk of an artificial tree
which has at least one tubular bracket and a fixing member, the
branch having a branch stem portion, the method comprising the
steps of:
(a) Inserting the tubular bracket and fixing member onto the trunk
so that the fixing member fits over the tubular bracket;
(b) fitting the or each branch on the trunk by inserting the end of
the stem portion into an opening or respective openings at least
partly defined by the tubular bracket; and
(c) deforming the fixing member so as to tightly grip the tubular
bracket and branch stem or stems therein.
Preferably, the fixing member is a fixing ring, and wherein in the
step (c) the fixing member is deformed by a stamping operation to
grip the tubular bracket therein. The tubular bracket is provided
with at least one longitudinally-extending groove which defines
with the trunk the insertion opening, the branch stem being
inserted into the said opening at step (b). Each branch may be
fitted such that the branch extends generally parallel to the trunk
and is subsequently bent away from the trunk to extend more
radially therefrom. Before step (b) the tubular bracket is secured
onto the trunk with a pin or staple forced through the tubular
bracket and into the trunk.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the invention is now described, by way of example
only, with reference to the following drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows the step of fitting a branch-supporting bracket and
fixing collar onto a tree trunk;
FIG. 2 shows the securing of the bracket and the insertion of a
branch into the bracket;
FIG. 3 shows a branch partly inserted into the bracket;
FIG. 4 shows the inserted the branch fitted in the bracket;
FIG. 5 shows the bending of a branch into a desired position;
and
FIG. 6 is a view from above showing a plurality of branches fitted
onto the tree trunk.
Turning firstly to FIG. 1, this shows a tree trunk 2 in the form of
an elongate pole, a fixing bracket 4 and a fixing collar 6. The
trunk 2 may be made of wood, or more preferably made of a hollow
metal tube. In the complete tree the trunk may be made up of a
number of trunk sections which are connected together by suitable
attachment means, or alternatively may comprise a single-piece
trunk.
The bracket 4 comprises a tubular sleeve formed with a plurality of
internal grooves 8 which extend into externally protruding portions
10. The protruding portions 10 extend from an upper region of the
bracket towards a lower region, but do not extend along the entire
axial length thereof. The grooves 8 are open at their upper ends,
and closed at their lower ends. The bracket 4 is preferably formed
of a moulded plastics material which is light yet relatively rigid,
and easy to form in the illustrated shape.
The collar ring 10 comprises a metal ring which is of an internal
diameter which is about equal or slightly larger than the external
diameter of the bracket 4, including the protruding portions
10.
FIG. 2 shows a branch 12 which has a wire stem 14 having a
substantially straight end portion, and a bend at 18, and a
substantially straight main stem portion from which extend a
plurality of fronds 16. The stem 14 comprises a piece of wire of
elongate cross-section as indicated in the inset of FIG. 2, such
that the wire can be bent with relative ease in the short direction
of its cross-section, but is difficult to bend in the long
direction.
The fronds 16 are made of a synthetic material such as a vinyl or
other plastics material to give the appearance of a real tree,
leaves or needles.
The process of assembly is now described. As indicated in FIG. 1,
the bracket 4 is first fitted onto the trunk 2, followed by the
ring 6 which is push-fitted onto an upper region of the bracket 4.
The bracket 4 is then secured onto the trunk by means of U-shaped
pins or staples 13 which are forced through the bracket and into
the trunk by means of pneumatic gun. Subsequently, the end of stem
14 of the branch 12 is push-fitted into the top of a groove 8 as
far as the bend 18 in the stem 14, as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
This is repeated for other branches 12 (although these are not
shown in the Figures for reasons of clarity). Once each of the
branches 12 are fitted the trunk is placed in a stamping machine
which holds the trunk 2 and deforms the collar 6 inwardly in a
stamping operation so as to grip the bracket 4 tightly, thereby
holding the branches 12 tightly in the grooves 8 of the
bracket.
The tree with the branches fitted in this way can be packaged in a
relatively slim box or other container for convenient storage and
shipping.
Once purchased, the consumer setting up the tree may easily bend
each branch 12 downwardly so as to extend substantially radially
from the bracket 4, as indicated in FIG. 5. The exact angle can be
adjusted by the user as desired, so as to give the tree a realistic
appearance. FIG. 6 shows six branches 12 fitted onto the bracket 4
and bent into a radial orientation.
Although only a single bracket 4 is shown, it will be appreciated
that in the complete tree a plurality of brackets 4 and rings 6 are
arranged at spaced intervals along the trunk 2 with branches fitted
thereto as described above.
When the user wishes to store the tree, the user can bend the
branches inwardly up towards the position shown in FIG. 4.
* * * * *